Water Heater Disposal

[jayste]

I'll try this post here. Don't really know where to put it. I replaced my SIL's water heater the other day. After removing the old one I now wonder what to do with it. I replaced mine about 8-9 years ago and truly don't remember what I did with mine!? Anyway, besides the old-cut in half and make a hog feeder out of it or throw it in a ravine for fill, what do you guys do with your old water heaters when you have to replace them? It's crazy I can't for the life of me remember what I did with mine when I replaced it!!??:laughing:

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

I'll try this post here. Don't really know where to put it. I replaced my SIL's water heater the other day. After removing the old one I now wonder what to do with it. I replaced mine about 8-9 years ago and truly don't remember what I did with mine!? Anyway, besides the old-cut in half and make a hog feeder out of it or throw it in a ravine for fill, what do you guys do with your old water heaters when you have to replace them? It's crazy I can't for the life of me remember what I did with mine when I replaced it!!??:laughing:

One thing that they can be used for(if the burner is not shot) is to make a gas grill out of it.
Then if the tank doesn't have pinholes in it, you might experiment with a solar hot water heater.

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I'll try this post here. Don't really know where to put it. I replaced my SIL's water heater the other day. After removing the old one I now wonder what to do with it. I replaced mine about 8-9 years ago and truly don't remember what I did with mine!? Anyway, besides the old-cut in half and make a hog feeder out of it or throw it in a ravine for fill, what do you guys do with your old water heaters when you have to replace them? It's crazy I can't for the life of me remember what I did with mine when I replaced it!!??:laughing:

If it is of a suitable size and you have some basic fabrication skills, they make terrific lawn rollers.

 

[Kays Supply]

I'm a plumbing contractor. I set mine out by the trash dumpster and the scrap fairys come and they disappear.

 

[jayste]

I'm a plumbing contractor. I set mine out by the trash dumpster and the scrap fairys come and they disappear.

Scrap fairys...I like that!:thumbsup:

 

[charlz]

When I lived in Vegas the regular trash serviced picked up any 'white goods' other than freezer or fridge with the regular trash service at no cost. Here you call and they send a separate truck, I think it cost $27 when I changed my water heater.

 

[BigE_]

You can easily make a trash burner out of it. Or, haul it to the local transfer station and they'll generally take it away for free. The local one here made me pull all the wires off first. The funny thing is that they then threw the wires in the same big bin the water heater was going in.

Put an ad on Craigslist under "Free Stuff". Sometimes people will come and pick up anything.

 

[crusty 1]

Greatings Jay,I,v made the feeders,cut up for patch material and made a rain collecter out of one.Bottum was rusted out but I cut that out put 3 legs on the other end and pressto changeo I had a rain barrel that will last far beyond my mortal life.

 

[crusty 1]

Jay I forgot to mention that if I locate a large heater tank,was thinkin it woundn,t be a big stretch to make a lawn roller outta one.Never under estmate the mind of a cheap scatte.

 

[Thomas]

Landfill metal dumpster..The End.

 

[jayste]

Landfill metal dumpster..The End.

Thanks guys for the responses. Thomas, If I was to guess this is exactly what I did with mine..tossed it in a roll-off dumpster somewhere.

 

[nue2farm]

I saved mine. It did not leak, just bad elements. Since it was of an unknown age, we replaced it. I plan on cleaning it out and using it for a water storage tank at my cabin. Beats hauling five gallons a day when staying a while.

 

[forgeblast]

mother earth news has articles on making a wood stove from one, a stile from another, there are lots of things to do.

 

[AHNC]

I saved mine. It did not leak, just bad elements. Since it was of an unknown age, we replaced it. I plan on cleaning it out and using it for a water storage tank at my cabin. Beats hauling five gallons a day when staying a while.

Having had to carry water to the cabin I lived in for a couple years, eons ago, I'd suggest that you look into bacteria growth and Legionella disease to make sure you don't get any surprises. Storing, draining and refilling over a period of time can create a wonderful atmosphere for bacteria. It is a heck of a way to loose 10-20 lbs

Tank water heaters, the glass lined versions almost always leak at a tank penetration. The specification for their approved construction allows up to 1 sq" of open metal/sqft of glass. In a used tank that had been open to the atmosphere for a period of time the corrosion accelerates. Once the anode is consumed the water looks for something else to "consume" and the open metal is perfectly satisfactory.

 

[pat32rf]

What to do with it depends on if it is gas/oil or electric and why it was replaced? A lot of different answers depending......

 

[jayste]

What to do with it depends on if it is gas/oil or electric and why it was replaced? A lot of different answers depending......

I see your point, Pat. It's electric.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I have a friend that lives in an old canvas tent. Its fashioned like one from the Civil war and als has a TeePee. He saw some old water heater tanks out in my material piles and showed me the Mother Eart article on the heater and had me make a pair for his tent and Tee Pee. He says they work very well, Lots of things can be made from them a heater, roller, feeder, trough. I saw some when I was down in St Augustine last summer, they were cut lengthwise and made some nice strawberry planters that were on legs to make picking easier.

 

[Iowachild]

Our local auto crusher takes them free of charge.

 

[nue2farm]

Having had to carry water to the cabin I lived in for a couple years, eons ago, I'd suggest that you look into bacteria growth and Legionella disease to make sure you don't get any surprises. Storing, draining and refilling over a period of time can create a wonderful atmosphere for bacteria. It is a heck of a way to loose 10-20 lbs

Tank water heaters, the glass lined versions almost always leak at a tank penetration. The specification for their approved construction allows up to 1 sq" of open metal/sqft of glass. In a used tank that had been open to the atmosphere for a period of time the corrosion accelerates. Once the anode is consumed the water looks for something else to "consume" and the open metal is perfectly satisfactory.

AHNC, thanks for the heads up on that, may have to rinse with bleach after use.

 

[pat32rf]

If the leak is in the top half, you can cut the top out and use it for steaming lumber so it can be bent, as long as the bottom element (if it is an imersion type) is submerged.
You can also use it for a heated water bucket for animals (thermostat may need to be recalibrated)
Split it lengthwise and use the tank for a wood fired barbeque.
If the elements are shot but the pressure tank is OK you can just use it for increased hot water storage along with a good tank (or a storage tank for a geothermal system)
Cut the pressure tank in two and use the halves for scrap metal storage/disposal in your workshop (add lifting loops and dolly wheels)
Do NOT use it as an air tank!